Marker Monday - Hula Hoop Weaving

Last month's Family Fun magazine featured Hula Hoop Rug Instructions.

I really wanted to make one of these!! What I'd really like is a full size floor loom in my home but I'll probably have to send a few kids to college before I can high jack a bedroom for that one.

A hula hoop as a loom! How creatively simple!

Using old t-shirts cut in strips parallel to the bottom, you create loops that are stretched across the hula hoop like the spokes on a wheel. Then you start weaving in more of the t-shirt loops around and around. Family Fun has some great photos and instructions if you are interested.

After borrowing a couple hula hoops from a friend I started in.

And quickly gave it up to Yap. Isn't he doing a great job?

He and I took turns working on it over the weekend. We scrounged through all our dressers and used about 6-7 adult shirts and 4 kid shirts.

All finished! Yap thought in front of the throne was a good place for his rug.

I agree, that floor is cold in the winter!

Family Fun's instructions were great but I would change one thing.

When it's time to cut the rug off the hoop I suggest to lay it on the floor and cut all the loops at the same time. Then remove the hoop and straighten out any bumps created by uneven tension..and yes you'll have some. When you have gotten the rug flattened then tie up all the outside edges at the same time.

What good craft projects have you been up to lately?

Marker Monday - Scraps to Treasures

I recently joined a home-ec club in my county. I never thought I'd join a home-ec club and although most of the women in my club could be my mother or gr. mother, this group of women is a riot!

So last week our lesson was on using scrap fabric and turning it into something new rather than tossing it into the landfill. I sew but I don't quilt so my scraps usually get tossed. The lesson leader had tons of ideas but I'll just share two of my versions with her today.

Denim Pot Holders.

I was so happy she showed us these because my kitchen's potholders were in a sad state. Two layers of denim with three layers of flannel, or one of fleece, in the middle and you have a very insulating pot holder. Our lesson leader had nice edges turned under and topstitched. Not me, I'm in a hurry so I just zigzagged around the edge....works for me. But the HEART is what I was excited about. My former potholders were too small and I was always getting burned, but the heart shaped works great. It's just the right shape and size to keep my little fingers safe.

Our lesson leader also shared a website with us, Little Dresses for Africa, where you'll find a free pattern download to make some very simple sundresses; sizes 3-12. This is a non-profit group that provides dresses for girls in Africa. Dresses can be made quickly with very little fabric.

I downloaded the pattern and had two dresses (5/8 yd. each for size 3) whipped out in an hour, with Yahoo's help. Bias tape is used at the armholes (hard to see in the pics) and as a drawstring at the top which ties at the shoulders.


This one was actually made from a pillowcase (instructions for this on Little Dresses website also). Please don't pay any attention to those letters at the bottom. My iron on transfers and I had quite the go around for 20 minutes or so....the iron on transfers won. Good thing they were given to me; I'm not out any money!

Our home ec club is planning a sewing day where we'll be making up as many of these little dresses as we can. I'm really excited! What do you do with scraps?